Bonus Features

Wreck-It Ralph Goes Turbo on Blu-ray and DVD – Review of Bonus Features

5 March 2013 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

Wreck-It Ralph is, aside from Tangled, one of the few Disney releases that I have willingly watched again and again. It’s just a delight to watch and my whole family feels the same way. After having seen it at a Disney Parks Blog meet-up, a media screening, on the Disney Dream cruise ship, and most recently at the Orlando Science Center, it’s kind of fun to watch it in the comfort of my living room.

When watching the bonus features on the Blu-ray, I discovered some interesting facts about the production of the film. My favorite tid-bits were how the Sugar Rush universe and architecture was actually inspired by Spanish architect Antoni GaudÍ, one of my favorites. Once I heard the animator explain this, it made perfect sense! Do a google image search to see some of his amazing work and see the similarities in the buildings of Sugar Rush. Another fun note was how John Lasseter told animators to watch the opening of Saving Private Ryan as well as Aliens, to get a feel for the kind of frenzied, chaotic game environment to throw Ralph into when he game jumps to Hero’s Duty. I loved this insight into the film-making process.

The only thing missing was the cool 8-bit opening Castle scene for the Disney Pictures splash screen, I thought that was such a fun detail in theatres! I also wish there had been a complete run-down of all the homages and hidden Easter eggs of video games past within the movie. I know I look for more each time I see it, but I’d love to know if I’ve found them all! The deleted scenes were kind of crazy to see where the film may have gone. I definitely like the finished version.

Wreck-it Ralph now brings the wonderful story of redemption, friendship, and good vs. bad into your home, and with the Blu-ray/DVD + Digital Copy, you can watch Wreck-it Ralph anywhere. Of course also on the discs is the Emmy award-winning short, Paperman, beautifully animated and composed, it gets me every time.

Wreck-it Ralph is a definite addition to any Disney collection, or video gaming fan. It is available now – and I highly recommend the soundtrack too, which I’ve been listening to for months now. The Sugar Rush theme song is my ring tone!

In addition, there are some great apps for the kids to expand their wrecking fun with two fully interactive iOS apps “Wreck-It Ralph Storybook Deluxe” and “Hero’s Duty Interactive Comic,” along with print books and ebooks One Sweet Race and Wreck-It Ralph Read-Along.

Wreck-It Ralph Storybook Deluxe ($6.99)
Ralph, Felix, Vanellope, and other favorite characters from Wreck-It Ralph star in this exciting Storybook Deluxe app. Follow Ralph as he wrecks his way through the arcade in search of a hero’s medal—and ends up finding much, much more. – My 4 year old LOVES this app. The storybook part is great on its own, but the extra games and interactive elements keep him entertained without a peep!
Hero’s Duty Interactive Comic ($1.99)
A fantastic prequel to the upcoming movie, readers are able to venture into the Hero’s Duty game to discover Dr. Brad Scott, Tammy Calhoun, the Space Marines, and the infamous cy-bugs as they fight on the unnamed planet.
ONE SWEET RACE ($15.99 – available wherever books and eBooks are sold)
Explore the charming video-game world of Sugar Rush, from Disney Animation Studio’s latest film, Wreck-It-Ralph. This jacketed picture book features an original story about the film’s spunky heroine, Vanellope von Schweetz, as well as illustrations by one of the artists who worked on the film.
WRECK-IT RALPH READ ALONG STORYBOOK AND CD ($6.99 – available wherever books are sold, eBook available at Barnes & Noble and iTunes)
Jump into the action of the latest Walt Disney Animation Studios film Wreck-It Ralph with this exciting storybook and CD set! Video-game bad guy Wreck-It Ralph wants to be as beloved as his game’s good guy, Fix-It Felix. But when Ralph tries to prove he’s a hero by winning a video game medal, his actions spell disaster for the entire arcade! Featuring sound effects and the voices of John C. Reilly, Sarah Silverman, Jack McBrayer, and Jane Lynch, this thrilling read-along brings the action of Wreck-It Ralph to life!

Another great way to learn more about Wreck-it Ralph is visiting the The Magic of Disney Animation over at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. There you can see amazing concept art from the film as well as get your photo with Ralph and Vanellope in the meet and greet location, which is chock full of more gaming details.

Disclosure: I was provided with a 3-disc combo pack for review as well as a code for the Wreck-it Ralph Storybook app. My opinions are my own.

Disney Pixar’s Brave Comes to DVD and Blu-Ray-What to Expect

13 November 2012 by Suzannah Otis 1 Comment

I absolutely loved Brave when it came out, perhaps because of the strong mother-daughter theme, perhaps because of the simply gorgeous animation from Pixar. Either way, I was thrilled to be sent the Brave 5-Disc Ultimate Collector’s Edition Blu-Ray, Blu-Ray 3D, DVD and Digital Copy. It really IS the ultimate collector’s edition and though I don’t currently have a 3D television, a girl can dream!

“BRAVE” Merida. ©2012 Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

If you loved Brave in theatres, you will love the stunning landscapes and flowing red hair brought right to your living room. There are some really wonderful bonus features on the Blu-Ray, including a second Blu-Ray bonus disc:

BLU-RAY – DISC 1 INCLUDES:

· “La Luna” Theatrical Short – Fans will love this charming short that accompanied the film in theatres. It follows a young boy on his first night working the family business alongside his father and grandfather.

· “The Legend of Mor’du” Short – This rousing new bonus short film will give fans the chance to delve deeper into the legend behind Mordu, as told by the eccentric witch who transformed him.

· Brave Old World – Fans will watch as members of the “Brave” production team investigate Scotland, exploring its land, culture, people and dialects. The research they gathered was brought thrillingly to life in thefilm. Also, fans will hear what actress Emma Thompson (voice of Queen Elinor) thinks of Pixar’s take on her homeland.

· Merida & Elinor – With the creation of Merida and Elinor, the Pixar filmmakers delved deep into the relationship between mother and daughter. Highlighting contrasts in character design, clothing, animation, voicing, even hairstyle, watch how the filmmakers explored this most important of relationships.

· Bears – Take a look inside the art and design behind the bears in “Brave.” Each of the bears, gentle Mum-Bear and terrifying Mor’du, demanded a different approach to creating their physical appearance and personality.

· Brawl in the Hall – A fascinating and hilarious inside look at the process of creating “Brave’s” fighting Scots, through animation, crowd simulation and fight choreography – not to mention a room full of grunting men whose vocal chortles added authenticity to the raucous scene.

· Wonder Moss – Fans will explore how “Brave’s” technical artists examined the real Scottish countryside and studied the laws of nature, then turned thesefindings into computer codes that would blanket Merida’s Scotland in lush moss, lichen and bracken.

· Magic –The magic and mystery of Scotland is revealed to fans in this charming feature about the legends – from mystical potions to the will-o’-the-wisps – seen in “Brave.”

· Clan Pixar – At Pixar, getting into character is a team effort. From making Haggis to Kilt Fridays to celebrating the Scottish poet Robert Burns, fans will see how the “Brave” production crew truly embraced Scottish themes and customs fueled the Pixar crew throughout the creation of “Brave.”

· Once Upon A Scene – A closer look at the evolution of the storylines throughout the production of the film, including alternative openings to the film and many deleted scenes.

· Extended Scenes – Three separate scenes are highlighted in their extended form. Director Mark Andrews discusses the decision making process that led to the shortened versions of these scenes.

· Director Commentary

BLU-RAY DISC 2 INCLUDES:

· “Fergus & Mor’du” An Alternate Opening – Once upon a time, “Brave” had a different opening scene. Eventually cut from the film, fans can see it in its entirety in this bonus feature narrated by the film’s director Mark Andrews.

· Fallen Warriors Montage – A selection of deleted shots that were cut from the film late in production are presented to fans in various stages ofcompletion through a video montage narrated by director Mark Andrews.

· Dirty Hairy People – Fans will enjoy this uproarious bonus feature discussing the development of “Brave’s” Scots – including the design of their hair, attire, and dirt-crusted physiques.

· It is English…Sort Of – This bonus feature helps fans interpret some of the more Scottish lines in the film, thanks to the real Scottish actors who play the key characters and contributed their own dialects and sayings.

· Angus – A look at Merida’s most trusted companion, Angus, a mighty Clydesdale.

· The Tapestry – Fans will learn the story behind this embroidered emblem of family unity, which was lovingly crafted by “Brave’s” team of artists.

· Promotional Pieces – This bonus includes promotional clips for “Brave,” including: “Feast Yer Eyes,” “Relics,” “Clan DunBroch,” “Launch,” and more.

· Art Gallery – A selection of breathtaking art from the creation of the film, showcasing characters, sets, scenes and stunning landscapes.

· Wee Gaffes – A video montage of simulation, animation and shot bloopers.

· Renaissance Animation Man – Get a look at Director Mark Andrews’ love of Scotland, sword-fighting, music and more!

Definitely worth picking up for all of that additional content. The bonus features will keep you laughing and wanting to spend more time in Merida’s world. You can choose your own fate and decide whether to add the Brave Blu-ray or the Ultimate Collector’s Edition to your Disney movie collection. Whatever you decide, bring the breathtaking Brave home to your family today.

Disclosure: I was provided the Ultimate Collectors Edition discs for review purposes but all opinions are my own. Links included are affiliate links. Thanks!

Treasure Planet and Home on the Range Now on Blu-ray

15 July 2012 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

I’m always thrilled when Disney releases more of its feature animated films on Blu-ray, because I know it means the best quality picture, and I usually get to introduce my children to a film they either hadn’t seen or have forgotten about. In this case, Treasure Planet was one of my oldest son’s favorites back when it came out. It was one of the first Disney films he wanted to watch on repeat daily. He just loved the characters and was at the perfect age to get attached to them. Home on the Range was actually one of my daughter’s favorites when it was released as well. She loved the yodeling scene and the horse, played by Cuba Gooding Jr. While neither movie may have received critical acclaim and they aren’t my personal favorites, they represent a part of Disney history and certainly, like my children, built fans with their release.

That said, both films look spectacular on Blu-ray. There are some scenes that seem to just be made for this technology and the backgrounds and colors are just fantastic. The Bonus Features for Home on the Range are: Audio Commentary; animated short “A Dairy Tale: The Three Little Pigs;” 4 Deleted Scenes; Music Video; Trailblazers: The Making-of “Home on the Range;” Art Review; YodelMentary; Joke Corral: Herd of Jokes. On Treasure Planet the Bonus Features are: Deleted Scenes; RLS Legacy: Virtual 3D Tour & Treasure Hunt; DisneyPedia: The Life of a Pirate Revealed; Visual Commentary and More!

If you are looking to complete your Disney film library, of course these are must-haves, I think Home on the Range is worth it for the yodeling scene alone and Treasure Planet for the amazing space special effects scenes. They are available July 10 on Blu-ray:

Add them to your collection today!

GIVEAWAY – JOHN CARTER Blu-Ray/DVD Combo Pack [CLOSED]

12 June 2012 by Suzannah Otis 32 Comments

It’s no secret that I love John Carter. Now that John Carter is available on DVD and Blu-ray, there are even more cool things to discover about the movie and film-making process. Along with bonus footage, interviews, and bloopers, Disney’s Second Screen allows you to learn all sorts of behind-the-scenes secrets and facts. Check out the video below from director Andrew Stanton about how Second Screen works:

Here’s another video with commentary from Jon Favreau and others about the influence of John Carter over the years with the science fiction genre. The Edgar Rice Burrows classic series has been a passion of director Andrew Stanton for years, but he’s not alone in his love for this story.

If you haven’t yet seen the film, I urge you to run out and purchase the DVD or Blu-ray. It truly is a classic and my kids love it as well. Thanks to Disney, I’m also proud to be giving away a Blu-ray/DVD Combo pack of John Carter. I’m going to make it super easy to enter – simply leave a comment below sharing what you’re most looking forward to when you see John Carter – or, if you’ve already seen it, what you loved the most. That’s it! Giveaway closed.

[If you’d like to share this giveaway on Facebook or Twitter, I’d love and appreciate it! Just let me know where you’ve shared it in a comment too so I can count that as an extra entry.]

Giveaway ends June 19, 2012 at 11:59pm EDT

It’s Actually Pretty Easy Being Green. Muppets DVD Review + Soundtrack Giveaway!

19 March 2012 by Suzannah Otis 26 Comments

I feel as though of all the DVD/Blu-ray reviews I do here on Zannaland, this one – The Muppets, is probably the most unnecessary of all. (I know, I’m a great promoter 😉 ) Everyone I’ve talked to or shown a photo of the dvd to, has said “Oh, we can’t wait to pick that up!” It’s not so hard being green, but it may be hard finding someone that didn’t love The Muppets in theatres and doesn’t plan on purchasing the dvd!

If you need to remember why you loved the movie so much, The Muppets have come up with another of their great spoof videos, this time taking on the epic Hunger Games film. Another masterpiece!

Still not convinced? I’ll go over some of the fun bonus features, if you still need any convincing. In fact, the Muppets themselves have commented on some of contents of the releases!

One of my favorites includes “The Longest Blooper Reel Ever Made (In Muppet History––We Think).” The release also includes the hilarious featurette “A Little Screen Test on the Way to the Read Through,” which follows Jason Segel, Kermit, The Great Gonzo, Fozzie Bear, Miss Piggy and others as they get ready for the first day of production, and much more fun.

“Blu-ray is a great way to bring the Muppets into your home without having to worry about cleaning up after us,” said Kermit the Frog, commenting on the announcement. “And the behind-the-scenes extras are a revealing tell-all look at what it took to bring our movie to the big screen. It’s a must-see for fans of bloopers, flubs and slip-ups – which pretty much describes our act.”

Miss Piggy is equally thrilled at the movie’s Blu-ray release, “Now you can watch moi whenever you want! Ooh! Lucky vous!”

Additional fun-filled features on Disney’s “The Muppets” Blu-ray include a groundbreaking industry first — ‘Disney Intermission,’ a hilarious all-new feature that allows viewers to press Pause on their remote control and watch as the Muppets take over the screen and entertain until the movie resumes playing. We actually found that by accident and thought it was priceless. The release also includes “Explaining Evil: The Full Tex Richman Song,” an extended version of the rollicking rap song by villain Tex Richman (Academy Award winner Chris Cooper) who provides the hilarious backstory of why he hates the Muppets. Audio commentaries with screenwriter and star Jason Segel, director James Bobin and screenwriter Nicholas Stoller are also included.

So in short, what are you waiting for? Order now, go pick it up tomorrow, run, don’t walk to get your DVD or Blu-ray or Digital Download! We were sent a free copy of the Wocka Wocka Value Pack, which is what I recommend. It comes with the traditional DVD, the Blu-ray, Digital Download to upload it to your computer or iPad, and a code to download The Muppets soundtrack.

Since I already purchased the soundtrack when it came out, I’d love to pass this code on to a lucky reader here.

Here’s how to enter to win:

Comment below with your favorite Muppet character.

Extra Entries – tweet about the giveaway: “ I just entered to win The Muppets soundtrack download from @zannaland at Zannaland.com and you can too! bit.ly/yCMt7N ” (copy and paste this into your tweet)

LIKE Zannaland on facebook and comment on the facebook.com/zannaland wall with your favorite song from The Muppets.

Winner will be chosen at random on March 23 and will need to provide an email to be sent the download code. Good luck!

REVIEW: Disney’s Classic Lady and The Tramp Returns to DVD and Blu-Ray

6 February 2012 by Suzannah Otis 2 Comments

Si and Am — Sketch from the Blu-ray of Lady and the Tramp

One winter day in late 1979, I was called out of my kindergarten classroom and to the office, where my father picked me up and took me to the car. When I got into the back seat, I noticed a basket with a blanket inside. Opening the blanket, I saw the tiniest two kittens. One was blueish grey with a dark tail and ears and the other was cream colored with a dark brown tail and ears. Both sets of eyes were blue. My mom told me they were Siamese cats (a blue point and a seal point), and I thought right then and there that they were the most beautiful cats in the world.

Despite attempts by my parents to go with more interesting names of Rhett and Scarlett, we ended up calling them Boy Kitty and Girl Kitty (we already had a Mr. Kitty) and they grew into gorgeous creatures. So when Lady and The Tramp was re-released in theatres in 1980 and featured Siamese cats, it became one of my favorite movies – even if those particular cats were very naughty. Boy Kitty lived a very long and happy life, staying with me until I was 22.

As an adult, I watched the film on video back when my first two children were little. Perhaps it was the turn-of-the-century time period, the Main Street, U.S.A. feel, or the snow falling on the peaceful lanes of Victorian homes that reminded me of my childhood in New England, – or maybe even remembering my sweet Siamese friends, but it reaffirmed its place in my heart. As Walt Disney knew, animals have a lifelong impact on children, which could be why this film, told from the perspective of man’s best friend, is such a revered classic.

Now, years later, I love the classic story and how, even if it were humans in a live-action movie, the film would be just as compelling, romantic and sweet. I won’t get into the actual movie too much, as it’s a tale we all know and love, but this Blu-ray version is impeccably restored and probably clearer than when it first came out in 1955. The iconic scenes of Lady in the pink striped hatbox, Lady and Tramp sharing spaghetti and meatballs, the pawprints in the cement; they all makes me want to jump right into the screen and move in next door to Jim Dear and Darling.

While the “We Are Siamese” song, with the cats I loved so much, isn’t exactly politically correct these days, it brings me back to 5 or 6 year-old me and how amazing I thought it was that a Disney movie was singing about MY cats. Just as I’m sure every child of a Springer Spaniel, Scotty dog, or even mutt, thought the film was about their pet. The fact that Diane Disney Miller introduces the film and lets us know if was one of her dad’s favorites, makes it all the more special.

Blu-ray Bonus Features:

In the special feature, “Remembering Dad” Diane Disney Miller shares some wonderful stories of Walt, Disneyland history and the wonderfully detailed family apartment above the firehouse. Truly a treasure.

The Making of Si and Am feature is chock full of wonderful drawings of my favorite characters. The original theatrical trailers are fun to watch and remember a time when a new Disney picture was an event presided over by Walt himself. And then interesting to see how those trailers changed over the years.

There are some great sketches of deleted scenes from the beginning of the film, where Lady actually has two neighbor dogs, Homer and Boris competing for her attention. Boris moves in with an elaborate Russian-style dog house and is the aristocrat to Homer’s “dog-next-door” persona. Boris makes a later appearance in the dog pound scene. I’m glad they decided to cut this scene, however, it seems a bit long and not in keeping with the character they decided to go with for Lady.

The next deleted scene is of Jim Dear pacing and imagining the future possibilities for his about-to-be-born son. It’s cute, ending with Jim Dear passing out as he learns he is, indeed, father to a bouncing baby boy.

The final deleted scene is another long one where Tramp and Lady get stuck in a theatre watching a performing dog show. It’s cute; something I could see the Disney of today turning into an animated short.

You’ll also find some nice looks at the Disneyland television show, including “The Story of Dogs”, released in color for the first time. Bottom line, for a fan of Disney history, or Walt Disney himself, this dvd+Blu-ray collection is a must-buy. It’s chock full of wonderful history, nostalgia, and of course, Disney animation and story we all know and love.

Winnie the Pooh Brings His Hunny to DVD

4 November 2011 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

After seeing Winnie the Pooh in theaters this summer, I was excited to get the DVD+Blu-ray combo pack and share it with my 3 year-old. He hadn’t seen it with me when it came out because he was still at the age where I worried he wouldn’t make it through the whole film. However the minute I popped it in the Blu-ray player, he was enthralled. You can read my review of the film if you’d like, here I’ll just cover the DVD and Blu-ray extras.

Of course, as mentioned in the review, I loved the Ballad of Nessie, and still did on the Blu-ray. It’s so heartwarming and a fun little lesson for children. One thing I noticed watching it at home is I really heard the lovely Zooey Deschanel songs better and really enjoyed hearing them.

The Blu-ray bonus features aren’t too many in number, but with a primarily kids film, I don’t think they are really necessary anyway. These aren’t film buffs Disney is aiming at but there’s just enough behind-the-scenes fun to keep them entertained:

Blu-ray ™Bonus Features:

· Exclusive bonus short “Mini-Adventures of Winnie the Pooh: The Balloon” – In this charming short, Pooh comes up with a daring plan to get a hold of some honey by fooling a group of bees.

· “The Ballad of Nessie” – The animated short film included in the theatrical release is the heartwarming tale of how Nessie found her new home in the Loch Ness.

· “Winnie the Pooh and His Story Too” – A fun and informative behind-the-scenes look at the film, designed for the whole family. Hosted by John Cleese (narrator of the film), and with occasional help fromPooh himself, this featurette explores Winnie the Pooh’s history from his beginnings as a character in a book, to his continued life in the movies. The filmmakers reveal how they worked to keep the look of the characters and settings in this movie consistent with their first appearances on-screen in1966. Pooh, being a bear of very little mind, finds much of this confusing, but the Narrator and the filmmakers make it all clear to Pooh – and you!

· Deleted Scenes introduced by directors, Stephen Anderson and Don Hall – 5 deleted scenes including “The Tummy Song,” “”Rabbit’s Friends and Relations,” “Original Eeyore Intro,” “Original Tigger Intro” and “Pooh Searches for a Tail”

· Sing-Along with the Movie – Follow the red balloon and changing word colors to seven song lyrics featured in the film.

· Disney Song Selection – “Winnie the Pooh Theme Song,” “The Tummy Song, “A Very Important Thing To Do,” “The Backson Song,” “It’s Gonna Be Great,” “Everything is Honey” and “The Winner Song Finale”

The DVD bonus features are limited to the Ballad of Nessie, The Balloon, and 3 deleted scenes. Here’s a fun look at the real Hundred Acre Wood.

Winnie the Pooh is available now on DVD, Blu-ray, combo pack and digital download.

Alice in Wonderland 60th Anniversary HD Release+Bonus Features

27 January 2011 by Suzannah Otis 1 Comment

With interest in all things ALICE IN WONDERLAND at an all-time high following the record-breaking theatrical performance of Disney’s epic live-action fantasy adventure, Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment proudly unveils aone-of-a-kind 60th Anniversary Special Edition of Walt Disney’s original animated version of the whimsical classic tale ALICE IN WONDERLAND on Blu-ray — on February 1st, 2011. Released just in time for Valentine’s Day!

The new ALICE IN WONDERLAND 60^th Anniversary Special Edition takes viewers on magical adventure like never before with a fantastically odd and fun-filled world of colorful characters in brilliant high-definition and crystal clear sound. Additionally, the disc comes specially-packed with never-before-seen footage hosted by Kathryn Beaumont, an all-new interactive game and more. I was given a chance to preview this edition – one of my all-time favorite movies and was simply blown away by the colors, the quality and the sound. The bonus features are must-views for any Disney or Alice fan. This is definitely a film you’ll want to add to your Disney collection.